Your baby this week27 weeks pregnant

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Choosing day care

When you're evaluating your out-of-home childcare options, it's important to consider how well -- or how poorly -- each childcare center or home daycare will meet the needs of your child. Here are some suggestions from Ann Douglas, author of the book The Unofficial Guide to Childcare, from her article In Search of Mary Poppins:

Babies need to be able to eat and sleep when their own bodies dictate (as opposed to when the clock says they should be!), but at the same time they need a predictable environment in which they can feel secure. Also, they need a safe yet stimulating environment in which they are free to explore (as opposed to being confined to playpens or cribs for unreasonably long portions of the day).

Baby naming advice

Not sure what to name your little one once he is born? Here are a couple tips:

Try to choose a name that will grow with your child. Buffy is a great name for a three-year-old in ringlets, but it's not necessarily the best choice for a 30-year-old corporate lawyer. But, then again, the name would serve her well if she grew up to be a vampire slayer -- proof that no name is ever totally hopeless.

Proceed with caution if you're thinking of naming your child after a family friend. You want to make sure that person's going to continue to be a friend for at least the foreseeable future and keep out of trouble. After all, it would be a little embarrassing to have to explain how you ended up naming your child after a career criminal!

Pregnancy weight lifting

Rhonda asks: "I have been weightlifting 3 times a week for over a year. For my upper body, the maximum weight I lift is 70 pounds using machines, for my lower body the max I can do is 140 pounds using machines. My doctor doesn't want her patients to lift more than 20 pounds during pregnancy, which feels like lifting nothing to me. What are generally accepted safe levels of weight lifting, in terms of pounds, during pregnancy?"

Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, answers: "There really isn't a set of guidelines for weight lifting during pregnancy other than letting comfort be your guide. Did your doctor tell you why she was limiting the amount of weight you could lift? Are you considered a high-risk pregnancy? Maybe her guideline is meant for women who are just beginning a weight lifting regimen instead of for women like you who have been lifting for some time. My recommendation, after getting clearance from your OB, is to pay very close attention to your body's signals: if something hurts, or feels uncomfortable, or pulls in any way, DON'T DO IT! Also, be very careful to continue breathing while you lift - no breath holding during pregnancy!" Read more here!

Ready for a vacation?

Are you wanting one last trip with just your partner before the baby arrives? It is definitely possible to travel while pregnant!

Here's an important tip: Discuss your travel plans with your doctor or midwife. If you're experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or your due date is fast approaching, your caregiver may want you to stay relatively close to home (e.g. within a three-hour drive) in case of complications or an early arrival.

Even if your caregiver gives you the go-ahead to venture a little farther afield, she may want you to take a copy of your prenatal record with you. That way, if you run into complications while you're traveling, the doctor on call at whatever hospital or clinic you end up visiting will have the lowdown on your medical and obstetrical history. Get lots more tips and advice here!

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